Posted By Shahid Sami
I have started to look into doing an OH Risk Assessment and have taking Welding / Welders as a subject. Has anyone got any info on this eg. areas coverd like fumes, etc. questionnaire, process or anything to help.
Thanks
Shahid Sami

Posted By Jane Blunt
Dear Shahid

You need first to understand the key welding processes and what they produce in the way of noise, fume, etc.

In addition to the HSE site, if you do a web search using the words health and welding you will find some leads to TWI, which has a little free information. You may also find that there is a book on the subject, which may help you.

Regards

Jane

Posted By Gordon Thelwell
Hi Shahid,
Hope this helps:

Fact Sheet No 43


Welding

What is welding?

Welding is an industrial process used for joining metals. It involves many processes in which two pieces of metal are joined together or separated by application of heat, pressure or a combination of both. Welding can be performed in a wide range of work environments.

Welding is a high risk and labour intensive activity. It exposes workers to a number of hazards that may be detrimental to health and can have both acute and chronic effects. Welding related accidents can also be fatal.

Hazards and risks associated with welding

Welders are exposed to the following hazards:

· Electric shock - due to contact with electrically live components.

· Radiation burns - burns to the eyes or body due to large quantity of visible light, ultraviolet and infrared from the welding arc.

· Body burns - burns due to weld spatter or hot or molten material, or due to burning of clothing.

· Fire and explosion - due to arc, flame, sparks or spatter or electrical faults in combination with flammable materials, gases or liquids.

· Fumes - due to inhalation of harmful fumes and gases from the welding process.

· Noise - welding environments are sufficiently noisy to be above the limit level (85dB(A)).

· Slips, trips and falls - due to arrangements of tools and power lines in different work environments.

· Manual handling - due to the use of heavy tools and equipments.

Difficult work situations such as work outdoors, in confined spaces or on steel structures can also add to the hazards of welding. Falls from heights, asphyxiation and sunburn are some examples of hazards in different work environments.

Managing risks associated with welding

The best way to manage the risks associated with welding is by implementing risk management programs. Risk management is a method that requires the identification of hazards, assessment of the risks and implementation of suitable controls to reduce the risk to an acceptable level.

It is essential to evaluate and review a risk management program. Evaluation involves ensuring that control measures have eliminated or reduced the risks, and review aims to check that the process is working effectively to identify hazards and manage risks.

Employer's responsibilities in managing risks

Commonwealth agencies have a statutory obligation to protect employee's health and safety. The Occupational Health and Safety (Commonwealth Employment) Act 1991 (the OHS(CE) Act) states that an employer must take all reasonably practicable steps to protect the health and safety of employees.

The Occupational Health and Safety (Commonwealth Employment) (National Standard) Regulations 1994 (the OHS(CE)(NS) regulations) complement the OHS(CE) Act by stating that an employer must ensure that appropriate steps are taken to identify all reasonable foreseeable hazards arising from work which may affect the health or safety of employees or other persons. If a hazard is identified the employer must ensure that an assessment of the risk is made and a control measure is implemented.

The employer is responsible for designating individuals who are competent in the safe operation of their equipment and safe welding process. A competent person is one who has, through a combination of training, education and experience, acquired knowledge and skills that enable the person to correctly perform that task.

Employer obligations also apply to contracting welding services to others. The OHS(CE) Act requires the employer to identify and assess the risks related to plant or hazardous substances and provide information to the contracted party.

Employee's responsibilities in managing risks

The HASAW Act requires employees, while at work, to:

· take all reasonably practicable steps to not take any action, or make any omission, that creates or increases a risk to their or others' health and safety.

· cooperate with the employer to the extent necessary to enable the employer or other person to fulfil duties and obligations imposed on them.

· use equipment, supplied by the employer in accordance with any instructions given by the employer consistent with its safe and proper use. This is of particular importance for welding activities as the use of personal protective equipment is essential in such activity.


Aslo, check these out:

www.le.ac.uk/eg/safety/risk/risk_weld.doc

www.wtia.com.au/downloadablefiles.html